Heroes Duet

by Pinder, Victoria

  She yelped with joy.

  Everyone glanced at her, but she didn’t care.

  Staying with Michael was nice, but to actually meet the Queen? She would need a dress for the occasion. What was the protocol when invited to the palace? She had no idea, but the hum in her veins only grew stronger. She’d absolutely look it up. Her smile widened. “We’ll see the Queen. I’m so excited.”

  “Emily looks well.” Brady nodded. “Guess that was all it took.”

  Dane hugged her. “The bullet grazed her skin but didn’t pierce through her in any way.”

  Because her boyfriend had saved her life. She had a bounce inside her that didn’t allow her to sit still. “Doctor wanted to release me right away, but Dane convinced them to keep me overnight, which is why we’re still here and waiting to go now. The nurse said I’ll be up to speed in a week or two.”

  Both men nodded at her.

  Dane let her go but asked, “Henry, can you ask Buckingham to hold off for two weeks so Emily can walk?”

  Now she had even more reason to heal fast.

  And maybe she could write a paper on the Irish Crown Jewels for a history journal. No one would have a better story than her on this one.

  Researching the past and putting it together with the known facts of now would weave quite a tale. She’d have to figure out what happened, when the box was opened last, when the Paris and London accounts were founded. How the jewels had survived two world wars.

  Basically she had tons of research—which she loved.

  Henry nodded. “Of course.”

  Her mind buzzed as Brady then said, “Your father called a few minutes ago. He wanted permission to come see you both.”

  Now she stilled—waiting. If Michael had called, then it was up to Dane on how he wanted to proceed.

  Hopefully, he wouldn’t want to disappoint her family, but she’d deal with her sisters no matter what. Dane’s decision mattered so she glanced up at him with support. He told Henry, “Can you book us rooms at a hotel and tell my father we’ll meet him for dinner?”

  Good. She used his hand to stand, then his arm as a crutch. “Really?”

  Brady fixed his glasses with his left hand, stood from his seat and waved at them as he said, “We’ll leave you two alone.”

  They didn’t talk as Brady and Henry filed out. She swallowed and patted the bed beside her. Dane sat once the door closed.

  She waited for him to say something but he was silent so she broke the moment with a sigh. He kissed her hand. “You said you’d be beside me when I see my father again.”

  She kissed his cheek and rested against his shoulder. “I didn’t know you’d just forgive like you did—thank you, Dane.”

  Another knock sounded, so she held back the rest of what she wanted to say.

  It was the nurse with the paperwork so she could leave. Yeah. She jumped as the door closed behind the nurse. Dane picked up her pocketbook and handed it to her as he asked, “Was I supposed to hold a bad night where we were both exhausted against you?”

  “I don’t know.” She took his hand and squeezed as she said, “Let’s just get out of here. The doctor said I’m not bleeding and don’t need stitches.”

  He walked beside her and reached for the door as he said, “You were lucky.”

  She bounced into the hall, though she knew tomorrow once the pain meds wore off she’d feel more pain. She limped a little as they headed out and the memory of Dane chasing Alexandre came to mind. She winked at him as they made it to the elevator banks. “No. Not luck. You were blocking him.”

  “I couldn’t let anything happen to you.” He pressed the button.

  They were alone though nurses and patients walked in the halls around them.

  She met his gaze and only focused on him as she said, “And it seems you won.”

  As the doors opened, he patted her back and said, “We won. Do you want the necklace back now?”

  She pressed the button for the ground floor and showed him her back. “Put it on my neck, please.”

  He wrapped it around her neck but struggled with it as his hands trembled. “I’m still not good with the clasp.”

  Still? He’d been fine before. Something else bothered him, clearly, but right after he said it, like magic, he secured the gold necklace around her neck. She turned and took the earrings from his hand. “You’re a good man, Dane. It’s part of why I love you.”

  He kissed her forehead and held her steady for a moment. She sighed as the doors opened. He took her hand and they walked together through the busy lobby and out into the sun.

  Henry had been waiting for them and pointed them toward a car as Dane’s phone dinged. He checked the message and told Emily, “It seems my father sent us a car.”

  Emily followed him, but then waited while he checked the driver’s identification. Once he was sure, he signaled for Emily to get in first, then he did. Once he sat beside her, she turned her knees into his and said, “Let’s see Michael. You’ll feel better if you do.”

  “I feel fine right now.” He met her blue eyes.

  She let out a small sigh and said, “If anyone understands loss, it’s your father. You’re both alike.”

  Michael. To Dane, he seemed so aloof and uncaring about everything. After his mother died, Dane remembered staying in Michael’s house as his father’s uncle flat out refused to see him. In the following years, Michael had kept his distance. Emily and her sisters had been kind. He blinked and said, “I don’t see it.”

  Emily took his hand while they drove into Paris. “You wouldn’t. Oh, and let’s not get upset—my sister is pregnant.”

  Michael and Sophie seemed like total opposites back when he was in high school and even now he didn’t see how they fit but it wasn’t up to him to choose. Now that Emily was beside him, Dane relaxed and met her gaze. “I’m getting a brother or sister?”

  “Yeah.” She nodded and said, “I’m so excited for both of them.”

  Emily was a source of light itself. She smiled at him and he already felt his body loosen. He scooted closer and asked, “Emily?”

  “Yeah?” She gazed up and narrowed her eyes at him.

  Now that this was over, their lives could be normal. He stilled as he asked, “Will you move in with me when we go home?”

  Without hesitation, she nodded like she’d just found her favorite new present under the Christmas tree. “I’ll be wherever you are, Dane.”

  “Good.” He sank back against the leather seat. Emily was the one woman he’d ever met who was honest and sweet and forthright and smart and he loved her.

  As they headed toward the hotel, she stopped humming to herself and asked, “Can I ask a question?”

  He raised a brow. “Can I ever refuse you?”

  “Well no, you can’t,” she said with a laugh, but then became more serious. She lowered her voice. “Anyhow, why did you choose the name Uriel. It’s unusual.”

  When he’d left Miami years ago, he’d wanted to be someone else and his grandmother’s prayers echoed in the back of his mind. He traced Emily’s arm. “Did you ever read the bible, Em?”

  “I read it and liked it, but I haven’t memorized much.” Her gaze seemed puzzled as she asked, “Was there a Uriel? I don’t remember that name.”

  “Uriel is one of the four archangels in my grandma’s teaching.” He let the memories of childhood wash over him. His mother’s mother used to take him for ice cream and sometimes to church whenever his parents needed time off to go and do something.

  Emily hugged her stomach as the driver stopped in front of the hotel. The driver stepped out and she asked, “So you wanted to be an angel?”

  The driver opened the door and she scooted out. Once Dane joined her on the sidewalk he said, “No, but he’s the angel of repentance and supposedly stands at the gates with his fiery sword to cast demons out of heaven. My father, Edmond, was an evil man. I’ve spent my adult life trying to carve out my own path and not to define myself as Edmond’s so
n. I return lost items to their rightful owners, figure out clues and solve ancient mysteries that time forgot. But I always wanted to be honorable and show a little respect to my mother’s mother who liked to teach me right or wrong before she died.”

  “Your grandmother sounds lovely.” She walked slowly beside him as they went inside.

  They headed toward the front desk together to check in as he said, “When my mom died, I always prayed she’d repented and joined grandma. Edmond might torture my dreams, but it’s mostly because my mom died how she did. And I don’t want her to be punished. She was my mom.”

  Emily traced his cheek as the clerk called them to come forward. “So you chose Uriel as your name?”

  “Yeah.” He led her to the front desk. He signed for the room and took the key, handing her a plastic card that she slipped into her pocket. They glanced around the lobby, toward the restaurant. Emily pointed toward it and he nodded. It was time. He pressed his hand on her lower back and said, “We’re here. Let’s go see Michael.”

  They took two steps but then she stopped and said, “Dane. One second.”

  “What?” He stood beside her, waiting to find out what she wanted to say.

  She held both of his hands to her heart. “If you want, I’ll call you Uriel, if that makes you feel better.”

  Emily. Somehow she made everything smoother. Her eyes were bright and she’d always be his personal angel. He patted her hand and said, “I like hearing you call me Dane. You make being the old me, well, tolerable.”

  She made a face like she didn’t like his answer and asked, “Tolerable?”

  “Yes.” He leaned down, claiming her lips in a kiss.

  Emily’s kiss was unlike any other woman’s—sweeter than champagne or any fruit he’d ever had. She had something inside her that burned into him and he hugged her, holding her tight, forgetting where they were.

  However, she ended the kiss too fast and behind him he heard the distinctive cough of her sister, Sophie. Emily sighed and said, “I guess that’s okay. There is Michael at the door, waiting for us.”

  His neck felt hot. Hopefully the past was now gone, but to ensure his sanity, he quickly whispered to Emily, “Stay next to me.”

  “Always.”

  He held her hand but then extended the other as he neared the dark-haired man that was technically his father. “Hi Michael, it’s good to see you again.”

  Michael patted his shoulder and smiled at them as he said, “You too, son. Both of you come in. We’ve had dinner prepared.”

  As they entered the dining room, Emily held her breath and then squealed. “Dane, my sisters are here too.”

  The two younger sisters had clearly grown up. Isabelle must be in college now and Abigail was a full grown teenager. He remembered her when she was little. “Then it’s a reunion for all of us.”

  For once in his life Dane saw them all together and wasn’t haunted from his long ago past. Emily made the future bright enough to simply be happy.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The limo stopped before Buckingham Palace. Dane hadn’t even glanced out the window, once, the entire drive. Beside him, Emily bounced, clearly excited as she squeezed his hand.

  Today he wanted to make Emily proud.

  She wore the set he’d given her years ago to meet the queen.

  He adjusted the back so it laid flat against her neck as the car stopped.

  He peeked out and saw they were in the driveway. The tannish walls of the palace were so high he didn’t have a proper view.

  Not that the location mattered. He checked the ornamental pieces. The jewels that had been missing for over a hundred years were now being returned. Soon, everyone would see the Irish Crown Jewels on display at the Tower of London.

  Museums allowed the world to experience the past, and this journey was now done.

  This time he was no longer alone. Emily was at his side and nothing could be better. Dane adjusted his blue tie to ensure it was straight. Emily patted his shoulder. They waited for the driver, dressed in black livery, to open the door for Emily and himself.

  Emily’s light blonde bob shone and her pastel green gown only made her necklace glitter more. She adjusted her dress and shifted her weight back and forth, fiddling with the necklace he’d given her in high school.

  In heaven he hoped his mother and grandmother smiled down and appreciated Emily. She took his hand and he whispered, “Emily, you look great.”

  She shook her head as they walked up the steps as invited guests. “I’m terrified of going into the palace.”

  Near the door, the guards opened them ceremonially and they were expected to know all the procedure. He swallowed, clutched her hand and offered a reminder. “We were told, walk to the throne, hand the jewels to the servant, bow and back up, never showing the Queen your back. You made me practice this morning. You will do great.”

  She took a deep breath and nodded though she held onto his arm with her other hand as they stepped inside the gilded lobby. “I did, but that’s not what’s terrifying me right now.”

  He leaned closer and ignored that a butler in red came toward them. Emily smelled like roses in her perfume and somehow he was drawn even closer to her as he asked, “What is it then?”

  She stared at his polished black shoes instead of his eyes. “I said I wanted to be proud of you, but the truth is that I was scared our lives would never be normal. After visiting the palace, will you be happy with just writing journals about our one trip we might officially take a year?”

  She must know how special she was. He traced her back until she looked up at him, and then he said, “Our “trip” might be months long, discovering the past. That brings me joy. I want to see you happy as well.”

  “I am happy, Dane.” She fixed his tie for him. “I get to be beside you and I know more about the significance of history and get to write about your finds in addition to my own.”

  They made a dynamic team. Dane had intended to ask her over dinner, but as royal guests filed past for the ceremony, Dane’s mind quieted them all out and the box in his pocket almost burned him. He took it out while he said, “Well, I know nothing can eclipse our day but I wanted to ask you a question.”

  He went down on one knee.

  Emily’s face flamed red. She covered her lips. “What’s going on, Dane?”

  He opened the box and showed her a diamond ring made to match her necklace. “I’d like you to move in as my fiancée, Emily.”

  She dropped her hand but squeezed his. “What are you saying?”

  He stood but didn’t let her go. “I love you and don’t want to spend another minute of my life without you at my side.”

  Tears ran down her face as she asked, “Are you serious right now?”

  “Yes. Will you marry me?” Emily was perfect and he wanted forever to start, now.

  She threw her arms around his neck and bounced up and down as she said, “Yes, yes, yes!”

  “Here.” He slipped the ring on her finger.

  She sighed and wrapped her arms around him. He leaned forward and quickly kissed her despite the tap of shoes that it was time for them to keep moving. As the kiss ended, she sighed and said, “Now this really is the best day, ever. I love you, Dane.”

  He winked at her and then walked at her side. “So let’s drop off the jewelry and get out of here.”

  “I’m all yours.” She marched proudly beside him.

  And even if she thought nothing might top this day, she was wrong. Every day with Emily at his side was a taste of heaven. Life couldn’t get better than that.

  Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed Dane and Emily as much as I did. While the series is over for now, I wanted to offer you a free read of Rocking Player so you can get to know the Steel family.

  Or you can read about a short story series of billionaires all being targeted and you start the Tempting series with Tempting Gabe for FREE.

  Third option is Favorite Crush where Penny refuses to be a
nything like her gold digging mother and is all about being a smart engineer, and almost misses out on her chance at love with billionaire Jay Marshall in Favorite Crush.

  And to find out about new books, sign up for my newsletter: https://victoriapinder.com

  Rocking Player Preview

  Georgiana

  Life wasn’t like it was in the movies.

  I tugged my brown hair into a ponytail, reminding myself that as a single mom, I had zero interest in dating. My son, Jeremy, was all that mattered since the day I had him.

  Well, Jeremy and peace. I liked my life orderly and calm.

  Once in a while, like today, I wondered what my vacation romance, the one that had transformed me into sudden mom, might react if I ever saw him again to tell him about his son. No other man since Michael had ever made me forget myself.

  I was about to go to a professional baseball game. Jeremy had begged me to take him. My son was all about the cards and getting better at catching for his little league team.

  My dad, not my mom, had taken me to one baseball game as a girl, though I’m sure I'd talked his ear off about my paintbrushes I’d loved.

  Nothing stirred. Not even a leaf on a tree blew outside the windows on our cul-de-sac. Silence in the house wasn’t good, though at six years old, he was now old enough that maybe the quiet was okay, and it didn’t mean disaster was brewing. My big ears usually heard everything, and quiet ricocheted through my spine. Time to stop my wandering thoughts. Old habits kicked in and I moved faster to get ready to take him to the game today. I checked myself in the mirror of my en suite bathroom in my two-story home. Jeans that weren’t "mom jeans" and actually flattered me had been a gift from my sister, Ridley, after I’d cooked dinner for her last week. My high cheekbones were bare as blush seemed silly for a game.

  I never wore makeup anymore, but all my sisters had agreed I needed to stop hiding. I wasn’t, but I just wasn’t interested in anyone, not since Michael and that dream vacation.